Local schools celebrate Digital Learning Day

Northwoods Elementary School student Anautica Alexander, 11, creates a detailed face using technology in class on Digital Learning Day on Wednesday.

Maria Sestito / The Daily News

By AMANDA HICKEY Daily News Staff

Published: Friday, February 7, 2014 at 07:00 AM.

Skyping.

Scanning QR codes.

Creating technology wishlists.

Recording videos.

Those are just a few of the things that took place across Onslow County Schools Wednesday as part of Digital Learning Day.

Digital Learning Day is a nationwide celebration of innovative teaching and common-sense, effective applications of digital learning in schools, according to information from Alliance for Excellence Education, which organized the event. The organization is a Washington, DC-based national policy and advocacy organization that aims to ensure all students graduate from high school ready for success.

Jerri Sydes, the technology facilitator at Trexler Middle School, said she and the technology facilitators at Richlands High School, Richlands Elementary School and Richlands Primary School worked together to plan Digital Learning Day events.

Those are just a few of the things that took place across Onslow County Schools Wednesday as part of Digital Learning Day.

Digital Learning Day is a nationwide celebration of innovative teaching and common-sense, effective applications of digital learning in schools, according to information from Alliance for Excellence Education, which organized the event. The organization is a Washington, DC-based national policy and advocacy organization that aims to ensure all students graduate from high school ready for success.

Jerri Sydes, the technology facilitator at Trexler Middle School, said she and the technology facilitators at Richlands High School, Richlands Elementary School and Richlands Primary School worked together to plan Digital Learning Day events.

“(We are) just trying to bring the students and schools together,” Sydes said.

Trexler students Skyped with the Engineering Academy from Richlands High School at the beginning of the school day, allowing students to get a tour of the classroom and see some of what the academy students do, including using a 3-D printer.

In the media center, students were able to participate in the QR-code scavenger hunt, which provided clues that led to a book.

Haley Janiec, a sixth grade student, said the clue she pulled was about a boy named Luke.

“They gave us kind of a hint; it’s about him hiding,” she said.

First Haley looked for a book titled “The Hidden” but didn’t find that title on the shelves. Then she found a “Among the Hidden,” she said.

“I read the back of the book, and I got the book,” Haley said.

Also in the Trexler media center, Ayden Neff, a seventh grader, read “Wilamina and the Weather Conditions” via Skype to area second grade students in Sarah Barnett’s class at Richlands Primary School.

“It was pretty fun,” Ayden said, explaining that he has neighbors in the first and second grades who he normally reads to.

Art students at the school were also using technology on Wednesday but in a different way: Students were using old equipment, ranging from keyboards to scanners, to create art.

At Northwoods Elementary Magnet School of Technology and Innovation, Digital Learning Day was business as usual. Students used their Smartboards, document cameras, netbooks and tablets in the classroom. Several classrooms also created videos while the Media Center planned to participate in the Library of Congress webcast.

In Lisa Cherubini’s kindergarten class, students were practicing addition on their Galaxy tablets.

The tablets allow students to learn without worrying that other students are ahead of them or making an error in front of their classmates.

Riley Morrow, 5, said she likes being able to study math and reading on her tablet. Reading, she said, was her preference.

“I like that it’s fun because I get to listen a lot and you get to answer it,” Riley said. “It’s fun to answer it.”

Blue Creek Elementary School, Richlands Elementary School, Sand Ridge Elementary and Hunter’s Creek Middle School were also among Onslow County schools who planned to participate, according to Digital Learning Day organizers. White Oak Elementary in Carteret County was also slated to participate.

Amanda Hickey is the government reporter at The Daily News. She can be reached at amanda.hickey@jdnews.com.